The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-03-03
VOL. XVI.
GHOSTS IN OLD VIRGINNY.
THE SPESDTtRIET PLANTER WHO
COULD NOT REST IN HIS GRAVE.
Tale by Marion IInrland, Which She
Says is Founded on Facts.

He had spent most Of tho December
day within doors. In his brisk prone
made on the long porch he glanced,
when he passed them, into the drawing
room windows. In the warm area
spread about it by the great fire in the
chimney, he could sec two armchairs set
suggcstivcly together on the rug. He had
sat in one all the afternoon. His fancy
now placed III the other Il slight supple
figure III n winc-colorcd gown with soft
laces at neck and wrists. She WAS young
and blue-cyed, ana had rIst-courud iluir
with bronzed nipples running through it;
in the check next to him was II diaulc
that dcepcncd when she laughed. lie
would marry her III May, God willing,
by the time the roses void b. in bloom
on the bare, brown sticks over there in
the garden. His home was in y uch-
burg, fifty mites away from Powhutun
plantation, purchased six months ago by
Gervas Miller, his prospective fathCr-in-
law, long journey by stage or private
carriage in this we; thcr, and over the
worst roads in Virginia.
John Speed, the "catch" Of his native
town, and engaged to the sweetest girl
in the world, yet found the air raw, the
situation of Round Hill, noted for its
wide outlook, bleak, the landscaDc
drcary. Eliza Cosby" to her family and
friends since her baby tongue had in
vented the pretty substitute for her
prosaic namc) had gone up stairs to
dress for supper; Mrs. Miller was busy
i'll her own domain; Mr. Miller and his
two sons were at the county courthouse,
it being the first Monday IN the month
the CircuiG Court WAS i'll session.
AS he turned ut the end OF Che porch
i'll his twentieth rounl--hc counted them
to pass the timc-hc saw m&u coming
up the brick walk. can ODD iigurcp'
meditnted tho city beau, bat one who
had the bearing Of a gentleman. \ long
surtout Of drab cloth, open and flying
back as he strobe forward, showed Il
blue, close bodied coat trimmed with
brass buttons, IL ruiled shirt %oilcd and
rumpled, buff vest and brrec!Tcs of the
same color as the hat. Drawn over them
to the knee, a pair Of top boots stained
with red mud completed his attire. lie
carried riding whip in his Ii9ht hand,
up rakishly OH one side
ga queer fossil, cYcn for tic middle
counties" commented john Sl,ccd, inIv,
halting to await nearer upprouch and
salutation. "l1e might bavc come over
with Captain John Smith,"
The stranger assembled the steps de-
hberatcly, paused ut the top nud wheeled
for Il look at tho landscape, taking oil
his hat with II gesture OF intense wcari-
ness-a dcSpondcnt Blouch OF the we'll
knit figure that WAS lneXprcssih!y mourn
tul. Ills complexion was rs SWurthy as
Craole 's--JOm Speed took UOtC OF de-
tails while he still nrSitatcd to advance
and accost him. The deep eyes ShonC
with red fire, the lower lip w3 last in
the savage bite Of white, Sharp teeth.
He Was unShavcn, AagGurd, dIshcvclrd.
His hair and one eyebrow were iron
gray; the other eyebrow WAS black as
coal, giving II sinister cast to the CORFU
gated forehead.
When he turned swiftly on his heel,
and with one stride vanished ~ the hall
door, John Speed followed instantly.
The eccentric visitor might be priYi-
legged nei3hbor, or-hc reflected I'M
easily-an escaped lunatic. In any case
it was his place to shield the ladies from
dlSQpreeablc SllrDriSn in tha nhSnncn nf
the host and his sons.
Casting glance into tbc dro>vinc,
room windows as he hurried hv lhomt
he saw the unccrcmonious p1,rst tLrnw
himself into one OF the armchairs before
the fire. The door of the room wos sImt
and rs the IYnchburpcr uucncI #
Tribe, Shy's pet spaniel, rar out be
tween his legs, yclping shriliv in pain or
terror and scampcrcd M me- st std;rcasn f,.rn ~
John had a distinct 6limnsc ~ tEr
figure crouchcd topcthE, ~ fbo nhai, 'no
elbows on knees and head in hands In'
forr thn Inn rsconnJ ,,o"t Li,n ,i l'''''''' NC
"Why, Trirci Here, TrIIri1 hc coIIoJ
reossurinplv "Whot is thr n,ntto" oi' y,
fclIow?3 '1'''''i' '1''
As thc insu}tcl fovnritc Aoy,od ONT &c
SIGHT the vo1mT mnn nn,,h"', NO 0Iip Iol,, W
back and cufnrcd >'''i
s.IIxcusc me- si,r, no hooon Iouol,i,,,,
". " ~ e'''' '''''s ''''' 3
Roth cboirs u,oro o,,,,,r N,t o,.,,
ture was nrnsanI rycrnt E}imeciT ~ " ""
III.